disinterested friendship, I could be more seriously angry with both of you for this very extraordinary and causeless broil, at a moment when my father's service so decidedly demands the most perfect unanimity. But the worst of my situation is, that my very best friends hold they have liberty to ruin themselves, as well as the cause they have engaged in, upon the slightest caprice." Both the young men protested their resolution to submit every difference to his arbitration. "Indeed," said Edward, "I hardly know of what I am accused. I sought Colonel Mac-Ivor merely to mention to him that I had nearly escaped assassination at the hand of his immediate dependant, a dastardly revenge which I knew him to be incapable of authorizing. As to the cause for which he is disposed to fasten a quarrel upon me, I am ignorant of it unless it be that he accuses me, most unjustly, of having engaged the affections of a young lady in prejudice of his pretensions."

"If their is an error," said the chieftain, "it arises from a conversation which I held this morning with his royal highness himself."

"With me?" said the chevalier ; "how can Colonel Mac-Ivor have so far misunderstood me?"

He then led Fergus aside, and after five minutes earnest conversation,spurred his horse towards Edward. "It is impossible-nay ride up, colonel, for I desire no secrets-Is it possible, Mr. Waverley, that I am mistaken in supposing that you are an accepted lover of Miss Bradwardine? a fact of which I was by circumstances, though not by communication from you, so absolutely convinced that I alleged it to Vich Ian Vohr this morning as a reason why, without offence to him, you might not continue to be ambitious of an alliance, which to an unengaged person, even though once repulsed, holds out too many charms to be lightly laid aside."

"Your royal highness," said Waverley," must have founded on circumstances altogether unknown to me when you did me the distinguished honour of suppos

ing me an accepted lover of Miss Bradwardine. I fee the distinction implied in the supposition, but I have no title to it. For the rest, my confidence in my ow merit is too justly slight to admit of my hoping for suc sess in any quarter after positive rejection."

The chevalier was silent for a moment, looking steadily at them both, he then said, "Upon my word Mr. Waverley, you are a less happy man than I conceived I had very good reason to think you. But now gentlemen allow me to be umpire in this matter not as prince regent, but as Charles Stuart, a brother adventurer with you in the same gallant cause. Lay my pretensions entirely out of view, and consider your own honour, and how far it is well, or becoming, to give our enemies the advantage, and our friends the scandal, of showing that, few as we are, we are not united. And forgive me if I add, that the names of the ladies who have been mentioned, crave more respect from us all than to be made themes of discord."

He took Fergus a little apart, and spoke to him very carnestly for two or three minutes; and then returning to Waverley, said, "I believe I have satisfied Colonel Mac-Ivor, that his resentment was founded upon a misconception, to which, indeed, I myself gave rise, and I trust Mr. Waverley is too generous to harbour any recollection of what is passed, when I assure him that such is the case.-You must state this matter properly to your clan, Vich Ian Vohr, to prevent a recurrence of their precipitate violence." Fergus bowed.

"And now, gentlemen, let me have the pleasure

to see you shake hands."

They advanced coldly, and with measured steps, each apparently reluctant to appear most forward in concession. They did however shake hands, and parted, taking a respectful leave of the chevalier.

Charles Edward then rode to the head of the MacIvors, threw himself from his horse, begged a drink out of old Ballankeiroch's cantine, and marched about half a mile along with them, inquiring into the history

and connexions of Sliochd nan Ivor, adroitly using the few words of Gaelic he possessed, and affecting a great desire to learn it more thoroughly. He then mounted his horse once more, and galloped to the baron's cavalry, which was in front, halted them, and examined their accoutrements and state of discipline; took notice of the principal gentleman, and even of the cadets; inquired after their ladies, and commended their horses; rode about an hour with the Baron of Bradwardine, and endured three long stories about FieldMarshal the Duke of Berwick.

"Ah, Beaujeu, mon cher ami," said, he, as he returned to his usual place in the line of march, "que mon metier de prince errant est ennuyant, par fois. Mais, Courage! c'est le grand jeu apres tout."

CHAPTER XX.

A Skirmish.

THE reader need hardly be reminded, that after a council of war held at Derby upon the 5th of Decem ber, the Highlanders relinquished their desperate at tempt to penetrate farther into England, and, greatly to the dissatisfaction of their young and daring leader positively determined to return northward. They com menced their retreat accordingly, and, by their extreme celerity of movement, outstripped the motions of the Duke of Cumberland, who now pursued them with a very large body of cavalry.

This retreat was a virtual resignation of their towering hopes. None had been so sanguine as Fergus Mac-Ivor, none, consequently, were so cruelly mortified at the change of measures. He argued, or rather remonstrated, with the utmost vehemence at the coun cil of war; and, when his opinion was rejected, shed tears of grief and indignation. From that moment his whole manner was so much altered, that he could scarcely have been recognised for the same soaring and ardent spirit, for whom the earth seemed too narrow but a week before. The retreat had continued for several days, when Edward, to his surprise, early upon the 12th of December, received a visit from the chieftain in his quarters in a hamlet, about half way between Shap and Penrith.

Having had no intercourse with the chieftain since their rupture, Edward waited with some anxiety for an explanation of this unexpected visit; nor could he help being surprised and somewhat shocked, with the change in his appearance. His eye had lost much of its fire; his cheek was hollow, his voice languid, even his gait seemed less firm and elastic than it was wont;

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and his dress, to which he used to be particularly attentive, was now flung carelessly about him. He invited Edward to walk out with him by the little river in the vicinity; and smiled in a melancholy manner when he observed him take down and buckle on his sword. As soon as they were in a wild sequestered path by the side of the stream, "Our fine adventure is now totally ruined, Waverley, and I wish to know what you intend to do:-nay, never stare at me, man. I tell you I received a packet from my sister yesterday, and, had I got the information it contained sooner, it would have prevented a quarrel, which I am always vexed when I think of. In a letter written after the dispute, I acquainted her with the cause of it, and she now replies to me, that she never had, nor could have, any purpose of giving you encouragement; so that it seems I have acted like a madman.-Poor Flora! she writes in high spirits; what a change will the news of this unhappy retreat make in her state of mind!"

Waverley, who was really much affected by the deep tone of melancholy with which Fergus spoke, affectionately entreated him to banish from his remembrance any unkindness which had arisen between them, and they once more shook hands, but now with sincere cordiality. Fergus again inquired of Waverley what he intended to do. "Had you not better leave this luckless army, and get down before us into Scotland, and embark for the continent from some of the eastern ports that are still in our possession? When you are out of the kingdom, your friends will easily negotiate your pardon; and to tell you the truth, I wish you would carry Rose Bradwardine with you as your wife, and take Flora also under your joint protection."-Edward looked surprised-" She loves you, and I believe you love her, though, perhaps, you have not found it out, for you are not celebrated for knowing your own mind very pointedly." He said this with a sort of smile.

"How," answered Edward, "can you advise me to desert the expedition in which we are all embarked?"